New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trail: First Run Impressions

Introduction

New Balance’s FuelCell SuperComp Trail is a relatively recent addition to the plated trail shoe crowd, and it arrives with a clear ambition: one shoe for any distance, from short 10K efforts up to ultramarathons, across a range of paces. After a first run of about 10K through Epping Forest on hardpacked, sun-baked trails, the early picture is promising.

Specs and Build: A Two-Layer Foam System

The SuperComp Trail carries a sizable stack: 36.5mm at the heel and 26.5mm in the forefoot for a 10mm drop. Weight is 8.9 ounces (253 grams) in a men’s UK 8.5, and pricing sits at £200 in the UK or $199 in the US.

The upper is an engineered mesh that is tightly woven and dense, with overlays in high-abrasion areas plus toe protection material to guard against kicked rocks and roots. The midsole uses two layers of different-density FuelCell foam: the layer closest to the foot is the same FuelCell found in the FuelCell Elite road racer, New Balance’s most cushioned and responsive foam. Beneath it sits a FuelSole that is heavier and more resilient, adding stability and durability. Between the two sits a forked carbon plate, as found on most plated trail shoes now reaching shelves.

The outsole uses Vibram MegaGrip Light Base, which is 30% lighter and slightly slimmer than standard MegaGrip. Lugs are fairly shallow (around 4mm), with different grip patterns in the forefoot and heel for climbs and descents. Flex grooves let the medial and lateral sections of the sole move independently over lumps and bumps, adding flexibility and control on uneven ground.

First Impressions Underfoot

Fit is the first thing to flag. In a regular running shoe size (UK 8.5), the shoe comes up a little tight. Generously, you could call it race fitting, and it does lock the foot in well. For shorter trail efforts that fit felt fine, but for longer distances more room would be welcome, and going half a size up seems sensible, particularly if you plan to run ultras.

On the foot, the shoe has that desirable disappearing, natural feel: easy to forget you are wearing it, aside from a touch of tightness in the toe box. The spring and propulsion from the carbon plate is not overly aggressive. Instead it adds a little stability to the softer FuelCell foam, which works nicely together.

How It Ran on the Trails

The test route was roughly 10K (seven miles) of rolling, compact, hardpacked trails in hot sun: nothing too steep or technical. That is exactly the kind of running this shoe is built for, the sort of terrain you might find on groomed forest paths or riverside trails, and it coped very well. Stability was good, the shoe felt natural on the feet, and the locked-in upper held the foot securely. With nothing twisty or tight on the route, side-to-side movement over uneven ground remains untested at this stage.

The strongest signal after the first run: the shoe is springy and propulsive enough to be in serious consideration for a marathon mixing tarmac and trails, at a three-and-a-half to four-hour time on feet. That is not a distance you would trust a shoe for if it were not forgiving and comfortable enough.

Buying Advice

If your trail running happens mostly on groomed, compact trails at a mix of paces, the SuperComp Trail makes a compelling case as a versatile, do-everything option with genuine speed. If you favor very technical, rocky, rooty terrain, the shallow 4mm lugs and this first run’s hardpacked focus suggest it is not targeted there.

On sizing, try half a size up unless you specifically want a locked-in race fit. The £200 / $199 price places it firmly in the premium trail shoe bracket, so it makes most sense for runners who want one plated, cushioned shoe for everything from fast 10Ks to long trail days.

Conclusion

After 10K on sun-baked forest trails, the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trail looks like a genuinely versatile trail shoe that many runners will like across a mixture of paces and terrains. The dual-density FuelCell midsole with forked carbon plate delivers springy but not aggressive propulsion, the upper locks the foot in well, and the fit is the main caveat to check. A promising start, and a shoe worth logging more miles in.